ACORN IS AT A LOSS AFTER HOUSE CUTS FEDERAL FUNDING
By Synthia Esther
September 17, 2009
Acorn is at a loss after the House cuts federal funding in a GOP-led strike against the scandal crime laden community organization. Republican Eric Cantor (Virginia) stated, "ACORN has violated serious federal laws, and today the House voted to ensure that taxpayer dollars would no longer be used to fund this corrupt organization." The vote, on a provision attached to a student aid bill, totaled 345-75, with Democrats supplying the "No" votes. The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), was caught on a hidden camera video released on Monday. The Senate and House initiatives to cut funding for Acorn won't occur until the bills to which they are attached clear Congress and are signed by President Obama. The Senate measure is attached to a fiscal 2010 spending bill.
Two Acorn employees are seen on the video advising a couple that posed as a prostitute and her pimp, to lie about their self-employment title and money launder her earnings. Scott Levenson, an Acorn spokesman, blasted the video shot at Acorn's Brooklyn office, saying the group believes the voices of the couple were dubbed over to alter the conversation and make the interaction appear more objectionable that it may have been. Fox News reported Wednesday that Acorn is ordering its own independent investigation of the video recorded accounts.
Considered a liberal-leaning group, Acorn was addressed by Republicans a year ago, when doubts gave way to possible false registration forms used in massive voter registration drives. Republicans have addressed federal officials to go further by launching a comprehensive investigation of how Acorn spends and manages federal money. Rep. Darrell Issa R-Calif, sponsor of the measure that passed the House stated, "As long as taxpayers are subsidizing Acorn and its affiliates, we need to use every measure possible to ensure that those dollars are being spent and managed appropriately." The Census Bureau has now severed its ties with Acorn for the 2010 census.
The video was the latest in a series that has already led to the firing of four Acorn employees in Baltimore and Washington. The series of videos were created by James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles and posted on www.BigGovernment.com , where O'Keefe touts himself as an activist filmmaker. Most news reports agree the video accounts appear to be the real deal, offering incriminating evidence.
Copyright - 2009, Synthia Esther. All Rights Reserved.
